Begonia plant named ‘BEGO 539’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘BEGO 539’, characterized by its compact and rounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; relatively small leaves; and numerous flowers that are bright red in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida×Begonia×sutherlandii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BEGO 539’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida×Begonia×sutherlandii,commercially known as hybrid tuberose Begonia, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘BEGO 539’.

The new Begonia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hann. Münden, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new freely branching hybrid tuberose Begoniacultivars with small leaves and numerous flowers.

The new Begonia originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin June, 2001 of a proprietary selection of Begonia×tuberhybridaidentified as code number Fu 41/5, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with an unidentified selection of Begonia sutherlandii, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discoveredand selected by the Inventor from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hann. Münden, Germanyduring the summer of 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Hann. Münden, Germany since the fall of 2002, has shownthat the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar BEGO 539 has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BEGO 539’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BEGO 539’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBegonia:

-   -   1. Compact and rounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Relatively small leaves.    -   4. Numerous flowers that are bright red in color.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching and have        thinner stems than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are larger and have thicker stems        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have larger leaves than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia have larger and fuller flowers than        plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivarHelene Harms, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inHann. Münden, Germany, plants of the new Begonia differed from plants ofthe cultivar Helene Harms in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were larger than plants of the        cultivar Helene Harms.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Begonia were lighter green in        color than leaves of plants of the cultivar Helene Harms.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Helene Harms        differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Helene Harms        had yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘BEGO 539’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘BEGO 539’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for theaforementioned photograph and following observations and measurementswere grown in Ogden, Utah in 15.25-cm containers and under commercialpractice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the spring andsummer. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged24° C., night temperatures averaged 21° C. and light levels were about4,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photograph and the descriptionwere about two months from planting.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida×Begonia×sutherlandii    cultivar BEGO 539.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number Fu 41/5, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified selection of Begonia            sutherlandii, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 10 to 14 days at            temperatures of about 20° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 to 16 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 164C in color. Plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form.—Compact and rounded plant habit; freely basal            branching with about eight primary branches per plant;            primary branches with secondary branches at potentially            every node. Vigorous and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 32 cm.        -   Branch description.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About            6 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: 181B.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Simple, alternate. Length:            About 8 cm. Width: About 4.2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Obliquely cordate. Margin: Erose. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation            pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color: Developing leaves,            upper surface: 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 146B.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 147A; venation, 146C.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 194A; venation, 148B.            Petiole length: About 3.8 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2 mm.            Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Petiole color, upper surface: 182A. Petiole color, lower            surface: 183D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Rounded axillary flowers with numerous            tepals. Freely flowering habit with about 16 flowers and            flower buds per branch. Flowers positioned mostly outwardly            arising from below the foliage. Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring in Germany. Flowers last about five days on the            plant. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowers.—Shape: Rounded to oval; rose-like. Diameter: About            2.5 cm by 2.8 cm. Depth (height): About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter:            About 2 cm. Color: Close to 44B.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Quantity per flower: Usually            about 16 per flower arranged in about five or six whorls.            Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded, obtuse. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color:            When opening, upper surface: 44A. When opening, lower            surface: 44B. Fully opened, upper surface: 44B; towards the            base, 29A. Fully opened, lower surface: 33A to 33B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity/arrangement: Two, opposite. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Oval. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Glabrous, smooth; velvety. Color, upper            surface: 33A. Color, lower surface: 35A.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 45° from vertical. Length: About            3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 182B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None            observed.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Begonia has not been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘BEGO 539’ as illustrated anddescribed.